Tobacco curing apparatus



Sept. 24, 1940.

J. R. HENDERSON TOBACCO CURING APPARATUS Filed Aug. 29, 1939 3 Sheets-Sheet l J. R. HENDERSON [TOBACCO CURING APPARATUS 5 Sheets-Sheet. 2

Filed Aug. 29, 1959 HSYWQ/YM 712373507? J R. HENDERSON ,0 5 TOBACCO cunme APPARATUS I Filed Aug. .29, 1939 s Sheets-Sheet s J.R.H97ZJ97'5071 bm mh AM bk.

V I predetermined. degreegi I I Patented Sept. 24,

- OB CO .Y buaunnenaema, mammal-G; i v spnuc uon shmt 29, $1.29;Sci-" v 86:29am

This invention relates tb'itobacco curing dev vices and more particularly to an improved means iorsuppiying heat toa tobacco barn., 7 An object oi this iin'vention is' tov provide f 5 improved means whereby'he'atinay be disci'iarged into the interior Die, tobacco barn, the heat gen q crating means being automatically vcontrolled so. "that the temperature within the tobacco barn.-; 1 will not riseflindulyor to the' point where-the l0 tobacco'willbe'liabletohurn.

Another object r this invention and provide a I an improved burner. for generating zheat together with an improved; means for discharging heat Q Q I u I I heating means, being shown partly inutop plan" about the lower portion 50! .the barn 'so as. to

i 16 evenly distribute the heat" within the; barn I A further object'of this'invention is to provide; I in-a structurejot this kind Ea plurality otheatfl whereby theheat may' be discharged in the andmeansconnectedfto the outlets for '0 automatically. cutting on the (discharge or heat in the barn when theftemperature rises above,a

'A still iurth'erobiect o this avenues-W provideaheating' flue which isexteinieci iliteriorlyoi 5' the tobaccobarn and a plurality ofvalve meme? connected tothe flue and" adjustable reia y tivethereto so that the, heat in the flue may be I discharged into'predetermined parts ot the barn,

Aturther object of thisjinventi'on' is t'o"pro-- o videirra'heatinaf means of'this type,.a,hot air flue, a plurality of vertically a J 3b e valve I connected to the flue-La hooqfoverea'ch waive member and a damper ior'esch' valve mem (which is held in an open position by vineans '3 01;; cable or the like having a iusibie element 1 -interposedthereinso thatin the event the ternperature oi theair'in the barnrises to a prede-If.

II termined degree; the fusible element will melt or so as to thereby, permit theidampers to automatically close thus out ofl'thefdischarge of iurther'heatwithin the'barn.

Aiurthenpbjectoi this invention is 0 in a heating device of this kind a hot" air flue which is positioned'in the lower portion or thef by a I I 'reajrwardlii and in 'substantially parallel relation to the-fluei l. "The branchflllis'pre'ierabiy dis;-

barn and means for automatically cutting of! thei'f'posed on an-angie to the horizontal; above barn, means for generating heat in the flue, means" i'or discharging the hot air from the flue into the discharge othot airinto the barn, the latter means including means forautomatically shutting on 0 the source of heatin additionto opening the'hot airflue to theatmosphere sothat-the hot air within-theflue mayre'adily pass out intothe I atmosphere and thus prevent burning of the baccowithinthebarm 'v u .a above obiectsland to; others which may I Iclaime'd.

In the and ipartlyfldiaflammaticalli, Figure. 215 a. d ail top plan of @v ertical section;

I flna ting exteriorly otthe 'b'arnuli andbeinsi-open provide'i V a ll is provided [with "a right angina'rly disposed bra ch-1t a a'extends through the adjscentiwall l I or the hm 'hereinaiter appear; invention consists "of the novel construction, combination and arrangement ofparts as will be. more specificallyreferred to n l,.; i st a ad th accompanying drawings, ,wherein areshown embodiments of the inven- 5 tiong but it is I'to-be understood thatchandes,

modifications j and variations may be resorted to which fall within the scope oi the invention as ra s I 1 m @Fiur'ell isa -,horisontal section taken .thromh v a'barn having a heating means constructed according to this invention mounted therein, the .r a,

the-tastings gnu :hq t a r] sid ngro gI ium-1.v a orfl nfotr c i -1e" b 1 2bm naw v ,i itati n i h device the", barn being broken, away" and in Fig" ""315 ad t illsideelevatio .I Figure 4 is a longitudinalisection oi the burner d'wmhi m v i n t I 1m:v I 1. a z d i asm n mgve t section oi. one or the heat elements,

I e,lsjer gg ent sisr m naucal view or ;meidmed form of vthis; invention,

iormfotheatugenerating means,

I 9 .stmmmawmmon m I furthergmodiflcation ot'heatlgenerating means. lpeiferring to. the 'drawings,=thenumera1- i des ignate's' genemll'y antobaccobarn within .whichtotioned above the'flo'ortor b'ottomof thejbarn. A

inea'ujng flue l'lis, disposed within the: wer portionlofthe' barn, it; one "emji ,orithefnii; I l term-- to theatmosphere, "Thein'n'er. end, oIfthe-flu'e v branch "Manda second branch] I! which entends the intakeend u of the flue auch Is is connected to the torw'ard'end of the flue or branch it, mid" an olit'let pipe is 13 bathe 60 he atmosphere."

- .t i, I

"Afburner member" generally i1 is Wm: M 1! is; MI! I ba ccoisfadaptedfltol be suspended'infthe usual I I being provided with legs or base members I8 whieh engage the interior of the flue vII so as to support the burner II substantially centrally of the intake end of the flue I I. 2, the burner I1 is positioned inwardly of the inwall 20 provided with an air intake opening 2|. I The forwardeud of the cylindrical body I8is pro-- vided with an inwardly curved flange 22 and a coil 23 is disposed in the forward end of the body I8. One end of thecoil 23 has a fuel supply pipe 24 connected thereto and the opposite endof the coil 23 has a. straight pipe25 connected thereto which extends through a partition 26 disposed within the body I8. A jet2| is connected to the pipe 25 by a connectingpipe 28 so that the jet 21 willbe in axial alignment with an opening 28 formed axially of the partition 26. The body I8 at-a' point rearwardly of'thepartition 26 is provided with an air vent orintake' opening 38 which maybe partly closed by'means of a valve plate 3| slidably carried by guide members 32 secured to the.'outer' side of the housing I9. By providing the coil 23 forwardly of the jet 21 the "flre from the jet 21 will pass through the coil 23 "and thereby superheat the fuel flowing fuel supply line 33 by means of pipe connections 34, 3sand 36'. r A fuel valve 31 is interposed in I the pipe 24 and isnorm'ally biased to a closed position by means of a spring 38. A check valve 38 is interposed in the pipe 24 adjacent the pipe coujpling 35 and between this coupling 35'and the or tank 40 and a main valve 4I- is interposed in the main supplyiine 33. In practice, theremay supply line 33 witheach burner II being proadapted to maintain 'a predetermined amount of air pressure in the reservoir 40 so that the fuel videdwith'an individualfuel valve'3'l'. j As shown in Figures 1 and 2, there are two flues' I I which are'positioned in the lower portionof the barn" III. The fuel tank 48 is provided with an air line 42 connected-to an air compressor "43 operated by means of an electric motor .44 or'any. other suitable source of power. The compressor 43 is in thepipe line 33and the; line 34' will be under rent supply The other side 48 of the elecwire'58 to the motor '44. In'this manner a conconstant pressure. The motor 44 is automatic-' ally-operated by means'of a pressure member 45 which isinterposed in the air line 42 and is connected to a switch structure 46 which is con-.

nected to one side 41 of a source of electric curtric current supply is connected by means of a stant air pressure'is maintained within the fuel tank 48. r I A pluralityof upstanding nipples 5| are con- [nected to the branches I2, I3 and I5.and a cylindrical valve member 52 engages in each nipple 5| The valve member 52 is provided at its lowerend with a reduced portion 53 forming a baflle so as to direct hot air from the branch upwardly I through the sleeve or. valve member 52. The

valve member 52 may be frictionally held in the nipple 5| although if desiredany suitableholding As shown in Figure 'ure 2.

"sitioned at the endof the barn means may be provided so that the valve member 52 may be vertically adjusted relative to the nipple 5|. In this manner the valve members 52 closest to the hot air flue I I may have the lower ends thereof extended only a slight distance into the particular branchwhereas succeeding valve members 52 may be extended to a greater degree downwardly into the branch or flue so as to thereby by -pass. the hot air. in the flue through the valve member 52.

Each valve member 52 has pivotally secured to the upper end thereof a damper plate 54 which is mounted on a hinge or pivotal structure 55. A

bowed spring 56 is secured at one end to a valve member 52 and engages the damper 54 so as to bias the damper 54 to a closed position. A hood 51 of substantially conical configuration is disposed above the top of each valve member 52 and is supportedabove a valve member. 52 by means of a pair of vertically disposed supporting arms or rods 55 These rods 58 have inwardly bent lower end portions 58eng'aging outwardly offset arm supporting members 68 which may be struck from each nipple 5|.

A damper "6| is mounted in-thev outlet end I6 of the hot air flue, the damperj6l being mounted on-a shaft 62 which is journalled through the outlet member I6. One endof the shaft 62 is provided with a crank and a spring 64 is connected at one endtothecrank 63 and to the other endto a pin or stud 65 secured to the outlet member I6. The spring 64 is adapted to norma'lly urge the damper 6| to an open position which is the position shown in dotted lines in Fig- In order to provides. means whereby the dampers 54 may be held'in open position, I have provided a flexible damper'holding member66 which is trained overpulleys 61', 68 and 69. The

cable or damper holding member. 66 engages' through an 'eye or guide member I8 carried by each damper 54 and theypulleys 68 and 68 are supported in a position whereby the cable 66 will I I be disposed immediately above the valve membe two-or more burners II connected-to the main' I "the flexible member 66 extends from. the pulley 61 above thebranch I5, longitudinally of the flue l3 above the branch I2 and then crosses over to 'the second heating means where the cable 66 is extended over the flue over the'flrst flue. e v A fusible element I3 is interposed in the cable 66 between the two flueImembers II and is po- I I opposite from the intake end of the flue members .II.. The fusible'element Bis adapted to normally hold the cable 66 taut. but when the temperature, of the air in the barn I8 rises to a predetermined degree, the fusible element I3 is adapted to melt so as to separate the adjacent ends of the cable 66 and thus permit the-cable 66 to slacken. When the cable 66 becomes slack thevalve mem-- bers 54 will be swung downwardlyto a closed in the same manner as position by the valve closing springs 56.

, The opposite ends of the cable 66 areextended rearwardly as at 14 and connected to an arm I carriedby eachvalve member 31. The cable 14 A" cable '18 is connected at one end to .66 .4 and at the opposite endtoa crank ll carried a by each, damper shaftcflppposite from the crank Y 63. The: cable Itisadaptedwhenlthe cable I! is:

taut to hold :the -.damner.-, 6| in, a'substantially 1., I, closedposition. In "this manner thehhot air in [the flue II will not be permittedtodischa eg lointo the atmosphere, when the dampers-2M re,

" ment' of theheating flues wherein the-i ntakeflue BI extend rearwardly from the bight orbranch 180. The branch on maybe provided with'baflles I lar tothe cable 6 6 is supported, above the hot air; flue 8| by supporting members .12! and a fusible: element'liij isinterposed infihe, cable 66",1 The;

' a f In theuse and operation of this heating-means I Lwhereinapipe 84 .isprovided similar to the pipe the parallellsides 82 thereof. Acableflsimi remaining" structure associated with thehot air: flue II is similar to the structureshownwithrespect to the fine I Iand theoutlet Ii.

the main valve 4|; is ope'nsoas to permitthefuel under, pressure 1 the burners I1,

The hot v air valvev members 52 A are vertically adjusted so ast by-pas's theghot irom the reservoir 40; to flow to air from the flue II and the fluemembers II," I3

and- I5 upwardly into the. interior, r the barn;

The dampers, will; be maintained in an open position so long as the damper holding cable '6 ,lis held taut by the lfusibleeelement 13.}; The

, a damper SI will be maintained ina closedposi- .tionwhen thenburner, ILis in operation sogthat normalposition of the damper-ti maybe reversed so that this damper ii, will be normally open and thuspermit thejsmoketo'passout of thehot air in the fluesw other fuelis used in place of the burner I] the ill lbe discharg d into the interior of the barn ,III -Where,coal, wood or the flues.-. y

y In the event the air in the barn II becomes too hot, the fusible element will melt orpart there-j by permitting the 'cable- 66 to slacken. When;

' the cable 66 becomes slack, the spring 56 for the dampers 54 will close the dampers 54 so as to cut off further discharge of the hot airfrom the flues into the interior of the barn. at the same-time j that the dampers 54 are closed by the-springs 56;

the fuel valve 31 will be moved to a closed -position by the spring '38 and the spring fl willsimul taneously swing'the damper SI to an open posi tiont'With the damper 6I in an'open" position,

' the excessive hot air inthe flues ,will be'prompt- 1y discharged into. 'the atmosphere exteriorly' of the barn III. In this manner the fusible element 13 will not permit the temperature of the air in the barn III to rise above a predetermined degree, which degree is the temperature at which the fusible element 13 will melt or part.

j ,r A heating means constructedaccordingto invention will provide the desired amount of dry smokeless hot air within the barn so as to thoroughly and quickly dry the tobacco withoutsubjecting the tobacco to a scorching 'heatwhich might at the same timecause jcolor.

and whicn po s or di might cause the tobacco to b 1},

The quality of fuel used for the burner I'I may be kerosene, furnace oil or .{any other suitable combustible fuel. By'providing theheating coil I aaiQQ' c Y v glvalveclosing springs and thus his entire sup; plyof fuel to eachburner-J'l. s I

-.'hea'tingya.pair?of.hot airfluem" Asshown in 8 the outer end of the-pipe to a'pair-of *hotair fluesel "581111118! to'the. flues I I4 is reduced as at I! and the pipe I4 increases I: 83 soa's to direct the hot ainfrom the flue II?! inldiameterforwardly ofthe burnerI'I". An up;-

to the opposite ends of the branch-II and-into,

'- wardly extending nipple IT isiecarried Lby the pipe v I, above ;the'.=.burner- I1- and .i forwardly thereof. A'idamper is mounted inthe.,nipple',ll and is I1 in",- order .to 'facilitate thef combustion of I the fuelr, a 1; In Figure 9 there is" disclosed a structure somewhat similar, tothatishown 'in, Figuresfljand 8 portion 8i" within which; abumer .I'IPLis posiitionedil pipe ,ll forwardly of the. burners I1 N :;-Ihf'lzures7 and 8ther i isi'difl da.slishtlya odifled-form votthis mventiomzwhfereina burner I'Iksiniilar-to the burner I1. is ,moumeaam a: pipe jor. tube, It Hwhlchiis open at" its 2 outer rendifand ortube-ll having a reduced iorwardior outertend I llin fthfe burner. ILthegradenof this combustible fuel may ,be relatively. low as the fuelv flowins to .;the let} I]: is-heated to a point where it will readily whenfthe 5 fuel a is discharged; from; the

"shaped, portion/ll are;:adapted to be :fconnected v adapted to; control: the amount of sire which is admitted-to the-pipes, forwardly of the burnerincreasesin'size as atll and an upstanding nippie .1" is carried'by the pipe gli -forwardly of the burner 'Il". A- damper I!" is [carried by the nipple l'l "in-order to admita predetermined ,,quantity:'of air into s bu'rne'r.' 11".. The ,1 inner end of ;;the pipe 84' is radapted to be econnecteditoga hot air gflue I I, sthe ;cp'nst ructionj of the flue 3|, I i" being similar to- 1 g the; flue l I and-the remaining structure v shown in riguresrl and ,2. e

Whatlclaim is:: ii.- A" 1-.. A. tobacco .barn heater, comprising a' flue adapted to be positioned I within the loweriportion of the barn, a heating means in saidflue at 7 one end thereof, a plurality of upstanding nipples "jected interiorly of said flue to, thereby by-pass hot air fromsaid flue through said body. v

=2. A tobacco barn heater comprising, a fine adapted the: pipe "1forwardly oi. the

carried byandcommunicati'ng with said flue, and a cylindrical body 'slidably mounted in a nipple, said body including a part adapted to be pro-v cylindricalibody slidably mounted in. ainipple,

said including a part adapted 11:0 be ,pro-

jectedinteriorly'o! saidflue to thereby by-pass hot air from. saIdyflue through said body, a hood disposed above said body, and means engaging a hood and supported from a nipple for supporting the hood above the body in the nipple.

1 3; A tobaccorbarn heater-comprising a adabtedto be positioned within-the lower portion of the barn, a heating means insaid flue at carried byand communicating with said flue, a

'cyllndricaibodysupported in a nipple, said body including a part adapted to be projected interior vlye of said'flue to therebyby-passhot rairifrom.

said flue through said body,'a hood disposed above said body,means engaging a hood and supfrom a nipple for supporting'the above the the-nipplea pivotally oncendthereof, a pluralityof upstanding nipples carried by each body at the upper end thereof, means normally biasing said damper to a closed position, and temperature controlled means for- ;,holding said dampers in open position. i a 4. A tobacco barn heaterwcomprising a flueadapted to be-positioned within a barn, a heating means in said flue at one end thereof, a plurality of upstanding nipples carried by and communi- .-cating with saidflue; a cylindrical by-pass body ineach nipple and includinga part projecting I into said flue td'by-pass' a predetermined amount adapted to be positioned within a barn, a heating means in said flue at one end thereof, a plurality :of upstanding nipplescarried by'and communiof hot air through said body, a closure for each body, means hingedly securing-said closure to a body, a spring constantly urgingsaid closure to closed position; a flexible member engaging each closure for holdingsaid closures in open posi- 1 tion, and fusible means connected to said flexible memberfor normally holding saidflexible member taut. 1 5. A tobacco barn heater-i comprising a flue eating with said'flue, acylindrical by-pass body in each nipple andincluding a part projecting into said flueto by-pass a predetermined-amount of hot air through said body, a closure for' each body, means hingedly securing said closure to a body, a spring'constantly urging said closure to closed position, a flexiblemember engaging each closure for holding said closures inopenposition, fusible means connected to said flexible member for normally holding said flexiblemember taut,

-a damper in the opposite end of said flue,-means constantly urging said damper to anopen Dosition, and means connecting said damper with said flexiblememberto thereby hold said damper Y closed when said flexiblemember is taut. 1

"6. A tobacco barn heater comprising a flue adapted to be positioned within abam, a liquid fuel burner in one. end of said flue, a pipeoon- V necting said burner with a source of fuelsupply,-

a valve in said pipe, spring means normally urging said valve to closed position, a plurality of nipples carried by said flue, a by-pass member adiustably engaging each nipple, aclosurefifor each by pass member, means constantly urging closures to closed position, an eyecarried by each closure, a flexible member engaging through said eye's, means connecting one end of said flexible nected to'the oppositeend of said flexible member andnormally holding said flexible member taut to thereby hold saidvalve' in open position and simultaneously hold said closures open;

' 'ILA tobacco barn heater comprising a flue adapted to be positioned within a barn, a liquid fuel burnerin one end of said flue, a pipe con- "necting said burner with a source of fuel' supply, avalve in said pipe, spring means normally urging said valve to closed position,a plurality of nipples carried by said flue, a by-pass member (adjustably engaging each nipple, a closure for each by-pass-member; means constantly urging 'said'closures to' closed positions, an eye carried by l each closure, a flexible member engaging through said flexible memberforholdingsaid damper closed when said flexible member istaut.

-8. A tobacco barn heater comprising a pair of flue members adaptedto be positioned within the --low er portion of the barn,a plurality of upstanding nipplescarried by and communicating with.

said flues, a "cylindrical body supported in each nipple,said body including a part adapted to be disposed-interiorly of a flue to thereby by-pass hot air from said flue through said body, a cloclosures in open position, yieldable means constantly urging said closures'to closed position, a burner, a pipe about said burner, a U-shaped' pipe connected to said-first pipe and to said pair of flues, a'nipple carried by said flrst pipe,and a damper' engaging said latter nipple.

' JAMES R. HENDIEIRSON.

meniber to said valve, and a fusible element coni sure pivotally carried by each body, fusible -means connectedto saidclosures for holdingsaid 

